After walking for a few hours more, they took another break. The sun sank beyond the horizon, imitating an upside-down orange bowl. They no longer had to melt before the sun's rays.

Ruby decided to rest. In total, they walked a good eight or nine hours. Ruby hoped that they could reach by tomorrow. Keeping an eye out for a waterfall was a must. With this land, it’s highly possible for one to come up. The terrain wasn’t smooth, nor was it too hilly. For a waterfall, there must be more of a mountain structure. Their eyes could only see so far through the dense forest.

Once camp was set, unlike last time, where everyone slept after eating, it was more lively. People told stories and sparred in playful duels.

Their liveliness didn’t bother Ruby. She did her own thing, which was to observe in silence. But that silence was ultimately broken, as always.

“Ruby, want to spar?”

“I’m good, Harley.”

“C’mon, it’ll be fun. Just something light.”

Ruby refused again. Harley must’ve seen through Ruby and forced her up on her feet.

“Ha–Harley.”

“C’mon.”

As much as she wanted to back down, she had no right to. Everyone else was upbeat after walking for so long. Her horse did the work for her. The least she could do was show a little energy.

Harley drew her sword from her hip and prompted Ruby to do the same. Ruby refused, claiming she didn’t ‘feel like sparring.’ Harley didn’t care. She whined and begged until she got her way.

“Fine,” sighed Ruby. “But only this time.”

Harley grinned and said something that didn’t reach Ruby. She swung her sword down. Ruby blocked and evaded to the side.

And so, their playful fight was on.

***

Her sword dug through the grass. She kneeled with her back hunched, panting and sweating. She looked down at the girl below, her nose pointing to the sky. Her hair covered her right eye. She didn’t brush it away. Why would she? If this were a real fight, she would’ve been dead.

“I won.”

She giggled, a giggle of relief and exhaustion. Her silver short hair dangled past her smiling mouth.

“First time for everything.”

“Is not. I’ve beaten you a few times,” Harley said.

She collapsed on Ruby, who tried to push her off.

“You’re—I can’t breathe.”

Harley rolled over to the side. “Lies. You just don’t like being touched.”

Harley giggled again. She lay on her back, staring at the branchy sky as her contagious laughter reached Ruby. Together, they both laughed under the same sky.

Ruby and Harley shared countless moments together. Every moment was a story: the fairy tales, the happy skies, the pitiful rain. There was always an element that made their moments pop.

The entire purpose of this mission was to save Quinn. Ruby wanted no distractions. So why did she bother herself with a sparring match? Why waste the little energy she had? Whatever the true motive was why Harley asked to spar, Ruby was glad.

It was a nice way to take a break from reality and swim through the pleasant waves.

“Let’s head back. They’re probably wondering where we are.”

“Good idea,” Harley said.

The two got up and snickered once more. Harley rested her arm around Ruby’s neck. Ruby didn’t care. For the first time today, she felt revived, and she wouldn’t let something trivial spoil that.

When they reached the main area, they noticed everyone in one spot. Voices filled with hateful yells spiraled into the atmosphere. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

Ruby and Harley exchanged glances and shoved their way through the rowdy crowd.

“What is it?” Ruby said while squeezing her way through.

A man not taller than Ruby stood with his hands behind his back. His white attire was clean, with minimal wrinkles. The top button on his shirt was loose, causing his collar to endure a weak structure. His orange hair spiked up unevenly, with a few strands dangling.

“Hello, miss, I’m looking for the leader of this rowdy group of rowdy folks. Is there any chance you are the one I am looking for?”

Ruby raised her fist, commanding everyone to quiet down. They listened after sprouting a few verbal insults to the man. Ruby didn’t have a clue what was happening, but she kept her composure.

“Who are you?”

“Are you who I look for?”

“Yes, I am Ruby, leader of the Bariac Cult.”

He shook his head rapidly with a grin. “Good, good, good, good. Itz a pleasure to meetcha. I am Guvin, messenger for the Three Heads of Despair.”

Ruby instantly drew her sword, pointing at the man’s neck. The man didn’t flinch. He stood still as if this was a daily occurrence.

“What do you want,” Ruby hissed with her brows narrowing.

“To deliver a message. I come in peace and wish to stay in one piece.

The crowd got rowdy again. They wanted to rip his head off. Ruby commanded them not to say a word. Her voice strained with seriousness. No one dared defy Ruby.

“Spit it out then.”

“Augustus desires your company alone. He doesn’t wish for a large crowd to enter his home.”

Augustus, leader of The Three Heads of Despair. Ruby had seen him once before, but that was roughly around the time when Zen was active. It’s been that long since she’d heard the name. She couldn’t remember much about Augustus. It was like reading words on a page in memory. Blurry.

“I refuse,” said Ruby.

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He grinned. “Cooperate for your own good. You aren’t in the position to lay terms.”

Ruby chuckled arrogantly, uncharacteristically covering her mouth while bending over. She couldn’t understand why the man was being cocky. He came alone, appearing unarmed, against a rowdy cult. His arrogance was a wonder.

She wiped her eyes and stood tall, returning to her seriousness.

“Your confidence is admirable. Do you realize the position you are in? You’re coming up to me after stealing my son and demanding me to leave my people. You can act as strong as you want, but you aren’t the safe one here.”

“I'm not the safe one here?” He tilted his head with another grin. Unlike the last ones, the edges of his lips were sharp enough to sever tree bark. “You read the room entirely wrong. I’ve been the safe one from the start.”

The air filled with a disturbing symphony of hissing projectiles. The little needles whizzed through the air from the trees, making contact with Ruby’s comrades. Miniature objects flew down from the trees. Swords were drawn, though the attacks were from the air. A sword was utterly useless. One by one, people fell like timber.

They weren’t arrows. They were small, like needles. It wasn’t big enough to kill someone or leave a mark. Blood didn’t shed. So what was it?

What weapon could drop a body without spilling an ounce of blood?

Amidst the chaos, Ruby attempted to defect the miniature needles. They came at the speed of light and were too small to see. She swung her sword aimlessly.

Although she kept swinging, she noticed something odd. None of their attacks were aimed at her; they only aimed at everyone around them. It was like they needed her.

People from the trees dropped down. They wore red hoods and white masks, identical attire that matched their heads, and wielded a weird metal weapon. She couldn’t identify it since she’d never seen such a woman before.

It was small, fitting in the palms of the enemies with ease. One could easily tuck it into one's pants without anyone noticing its presence. Ruby refused to believe this weapon was made here. Something like that must’ve been forged in Ionia.

They aimed the weapon at her. Ruby backed up, unsure of what to do.

“Drop the sword,” said someone in red and white.

Ruby glanced at her sword and looked up. She did what was told and raised her hands in the air.

“Not you. You there, drop your sword.”

Not her? Then who? She was the only one standing. Who were they speaking to? Could it be someone from behind? Impossible. Last time she checked, Guvin stood there. So who could—

Don’t tell me.

She turned around.

There they were—the two who constantly fought yet were always by each other’s side. It was like a brother-sister relationship. They always gave Ruby a difficult time, but they made up for it with the memories they’d formed.

The two sandwiched Guvin’s head with swords. His head was still intact, though he lost his cool misdemeanor from before.

“Does it look like you hooded marshmallows have power of demand?”

“I agree, Jeremy, and I don’t do that often. It seems like your friend here is trapped within the blades of death. Oooouuuhhhh, scary.”

“That’s right, Harley. At any second, we can slice his head off like butter.”

“Look, look. There’s some red oozing out from his neck. I wonder if blood would spout like a fountain if I decapitate him.”

Jermry gagged. “Ok, that’s a little too far.”

The white masked men moved forward as a group.

“We’ll open fire on your leader if you refuse to drop your weapon.”

“Don’t!”

Everyone turned to Guvin, who yelled as if he had witnessed his pet being kicked.

“Our orders were to bring her unharmed, untouched. I know it’s just a tranquilizer dart, but who is willing to carry a lifeless body for a few hours? No one. So please, don’t shoot. Drop your weapons, and let us handle this in peace.”

“In peace?! Says the one who attacked our comrades.”

“The darts put them to sleep unharmed. They will awake in a few hours,” Guvin said.

“I already know that much. I’d seen these darts before being sold on a cart. It had the same red fluffy thing at the end. Ionian items really are insane,” replied Jeremy.

Ruby had to double-check. “So they're all alive?”

Guvin’s nod lifted the weight of a thousand mountains off Ruby’s shoulders. She breathed a little easier, knowing her comrades were fine. It wasn’t the time to ease, though. She needed a better understanding of the situation.

“Why are you not harming us? Are we not your enemies?”

“You aren’t my enemy—but the cult’s. He insisted I killed your comrade, though it was ultimately my choice. I refused. I despise shedding blood. Why do we pick up a sword? Whose life do we intend to kill? No human deserves to be killed.”

“You are making a lot of nonsense,” Harley said.

“Probably. Just know I didn’t want to kill your people, hence why I shot tranquilizer darts and not arrows. I don’t expect sympathy, but I’m not doing this because I want to. They’ve saved me from being imprisoned by royalty. In return, I must run missions like these. Kill, collect, report, repeat. I hate it. Killing someone just because. I don’t want to keep doing this, but I have no choice. Sometimes, I believe being locked in a cell is better than what I’m doing.”

Harley retracted her sword. “Geez, man, you’re making me feel like we’re the bad ones here.”

She had a point. It felt like we were the ones attacking.

“Forgive me, but I don’t want to forcefully do this. Leader of the Bariac Cult, would kindly come without a fight.”

“That was the plan to begin with.”

His lips clamped together as he breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. I assure you your people will be fine. They will not be harmed. But for yourself, I cannot promise the same.”

“I’m fine as long as my son isn’t hurt.”

“Shall we get going?”

Ruby nodded. “Of course.”

“Geez, more walking,” Harley said, stretching her arms. I know cardio is efficient for weight loss, but I’m already skinny enough.”

“You sure about that?” Jeremy said with a half-baked smile. “You have a little weight to burn around the waist.”

Her eyes narrowed, the intensity blazed within. She fixed her gaze on her target, taking a few steps closer.

“One more word out of your mouth, and it’ll be the last thing you say.”

Jeremy shielded his chest, turning sideways with his hand on guard, protecting his face. Silence told the story.

Ruby interrupted the silence. “None of you are coming.”

“Too bad. I’m coming.”

“Harley, stop. I can’t guarantee your safety. Stay here and watch over the others.”

Jeremy jumped in. “That isn’t an option. Remember my promise? I’ll protect you regardless of who we face.” He pointed his sword at Ruby. “You protected me when I couldn’t protect myself. I will repeatedly return the favor until I physically can’t move! I am coming, whether you like it or not.”

“Ya, what he said.”

Both Harley and Jeremy pointed swords at the perplexed Ruby. She didn’t want them to come, knowing anything could happen. Their safety was her number one priority. Before marching, she promised them all that they would live to see next week, that this wouldn’t be their last time marching, and that she wanted to keep that promise.

But something about their determination made Ruby hesitant. She couldn’t open her mouth to say no, but she couldn’t say yes. Their stiff body and determined tone made Ruby speechless.

They really did care for her, so much so they were willing to walk into a serpent's den where fate could trample their lives.

Ruby looked away. “Fine.”

She didn’t get a chance to look at the happiness between Harley and Jeremy. Their faces met with glittering smiles. It was like they weren’t worried about the possibilities. They just wanted to stay and protect Ruby.

Guvin spoke. “I cannot guarantee their safety.”

“I know. They want to guarantee mine.”

“You’re lucky to have comrades like these.”

The edge of Ruby’s lips gently tugged upward. It was a genuine, shy smile with a sprinkle of sweetness. It was an expression worth a thousand memories.

“I really am.”

It was a soft tone, but those genuine words could reach anyone in the world.

Guvin announced their departure. As they started to walk, he muttered something to Harley and Jeremy.

“This is your final chance to back out.”

They looked at each other, exchanging smiles, and waved off Guvin’s words. Nothing could change their minds.

“Wait.”

Ruby quickly turned around and fished something from her bag. It was paper and a writing utensil. She wrote something, carefully folded the paper twice, and tucked it around Nadia’s bracelet.

“What did you write?”

“I informed them to head back to camp.”

“Will they listen?” Guvin asked.

“It’s Nadia. She’ll listen.”

From there, it was a two-hour walk till they reached the serpent’s den. It was a two-hour walk till they reached despair.